News: Soldiers saving Soldiers, medics teach basic life saving skills

Spc. Madison Lukas, an Edmond, Mo. native and medic for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, prepares a demonstration dummy for casualty evaluation and basic life saving training at the HHC company area, July 11, at Fort Hood.

By Pvt. Kelly Welch
1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORT HOOD, Texas- "Pay attention, this may save your life," are the words spoken by Spc. Madison Lukas to a room full of Soldiers during medical preparedness training at the motor pool area of 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division, July 11, on Fort Hood, Texas.

The training is part of an ongoing program to prepare Soldiers to be first responders.

Lukas and Keller teach other Soldiers how to evaluate casualties, properly treat casualties and move them while in combat situations. Both agree that teaching Soldiers basic life saving skills is needed.

"Giving Soldiers basic life saving skills increases the chances for a critically wounded Soldier to survive in the field," said Keller. "By giving them these skills they are helping themselves and their fellow Soldiers save valuable time in treating casualties."

Soldiers were given the chance to evaluate casualties for common battlefield injuries; contusions, abrasions, burns and lacerations. Lukas and Keller broke the Soldiers into two groups. Stations were set up so that each instructor could give hands on demonstrations.

Though tentative at first, Soldiers eventually became comfortable of handling the life saver dummies that were used for the demonstrations.

These demonstrations will be put to the test during the company's Combat Life Saver training, July 17.

Palm Beach, Fla. native, Staff Sgt. Hopeton Phillips, medic and battalion aid station non-commissioned officer in charge, wants Soldiers to get these classes before deployment in early 2009.

"This is essential training," said Phillips. "We need to make all Soldiers first responders and Lukas and Keller are paving the way for this goal."

The goal Phillips is speaking of is to give a class every month until the deployment. Lukas and Keller, along with their fellow medics will continue to train the Soldiers in the coming months.

"This is training that will save your life and possibly the life of your fellow Soldier and battle buddy," said Keller. "The sooner Soldiers in the field get treatment, the greater their chances of survival."